Recently, in partnership with Indigenous organisations including Bendigo District Co-Operative (BDAC), Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co Operative, The Long Walk and Borroloola Community Education Centre, 25 Indigenous young people from urban, regional and remote areas across Australia were invited to take part in a five day immersion tour to become inspired to set high aspirations for their futures.
The young people, along with elders, attended a number of the Academy’s partner organisations including Opera Australia, Tennis Australia, Darby McCarthy Indigenous Scholarship, Racing Victoria, Melbourne Victory Football Club, Federation University, The Long Walk, Essendon Football Club, and the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), to gain valuable insight into the culture and opportunities that each organisation offers.
Anglicare Victoria’s Manager of Indigenous Leadership Programs, David Law has been working on the program for the last three years, and notes the many positive benefits that stream from the program for the young people.
“The four guiding key pillars of the program include Culture, Aspiration, Education and Leadership. It’s about setting aspirations; it’s about promoting the benefits of education, at all levels and it’s about coming back into your community and being leaders.”
“The program allows the group to go behind the scenes, meet the people working there, experience the culture and become immersed, to see if they can feel really comfortable in that space.”
“The group also met and heard from inspiring leadership key note speakers, including Michael Long, Darby McCarthy and Simon Madden, who spoke about not only what they’ve done and achieved over the years, but the struggles they’ve been through. They spoke about humble beginnings, which is really important,” he says.
The group also took part in The Long Walk from Federation Square to the MCG before attending the AFL Dreamtime match between Richmond and Essendon. The Long Walk is a charity inspired by Michael Long’s walk to Canberra to get the lives of Indigenous people back on the national agenda.
Following the program, the young people return to local communities and those over the age of 15 are offered a Board position at their local Aboriginal Co-operative, as well as paid work experience with one of the academy partners. They are also encouraged to form a Youth Advisory Committee in their community.
We spoke to three of the Academy’s young people to find out how they found the week-long experience:
How are you enjoying the experience so far and how has the week helped with your future aspirations?
Danae, 16: “The past week has been very eye opening, busy, but exciting as we got to do things that we may not normally do and experience new things. We went backstage at the Opera and on the stage. I already planned what I want to be when I’m older – I want to be in medicine, an anaesthetist, so this kind of just adds onto everything that I need to learn.”
Kynan, 16: “It’s been really good. It was my first time seeing the Opera and it’s my first time doing The Long Walk. I’m doing building at the moment and I play a bit of footy.”
Sonny, 16: “I would definitely be taking up the opportunity to return to Melbourne to take up paid experience. My wildest dreams cannot imagine this is actually happening for me.”
In October 2017, the same group of young people will travel with the Essendon Football Club, Tennis Australia, Federation University and Opera Australia to the Northern Territory to work on a series of community projects to further enhance their leadership skills and promote cultural awareness.
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- Opera Australia
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- The Long Walk
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- Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy
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- Tennis Australia
